possibly the longest chapter i have written, it is very long and i think that the ending is very epic. you just have to get through the fluff. warning; i say the word arse once and it is in the btalte scene. (i spelt the word wrong so you cannot guess what happens.) since this is the continuem of the cliff hanger i shall shut up and suprise you. ~twilla

"Bomba, how many kittens do you want?" Tugger asked. They were going to be officially mated this coming jellicle ball, and this question was the very important one that he had to ask.

"As many as you want. I am willing." Bombalurina said, snuggling up to him. They were lying in his bed, cuddled up as close as they could be without leading onto something that I cannot mention in this story, due to the rating.

They snuggled closer, to preserve the moment. The ball was in three days, or so they thought. They had lost track of the days. For all they knew it was that night. They were right, and Munkustrap was off somewhere panicking as the cats were all resting and saving themselves to be right for the jellicle moon and the jellicle ball. Something was up with him, but he didn't know what. Part of it was being nervous, as he would become jellicle leader, so his dad could go up to Heaviside next year. He wanted at least one year left just to relax.

He thought of Demeter, who knew what great responsibility came with being Jellicle leader, and was taking care of the kittens by herself it seemed. She had done a great job too. Alana was training in to be jellicle protector, though Alonzo was above her as well as her uncle Tugger. She didn't care, but what Munkustrap loved the most about his little angel was that she knew how to strike fear into the hearts of toms that liked her. If they tried to do something, she would kick them so hard that they would run to their mothers.

Jacob and Mathias were different in great ways. Jacob was all truth and reality, but his younger brother by thirty seconds was always floating somewhere, and always gave Jacob trouble with reality by using 'what if' statements. Something about those two made Munkustrap feel a little better about him.

Finally there was Mathew, who was just a little quirky and out there. He wasn't followed by any kittens, but almost always was off somewhere by himself, or with his friend John. John was a good tom, Munkustrap knew, but he also knew that he might be a very bad example of what happens when you fall in love. Munkustrap didn't fall in love though; he tripped into it, and then was sucked in by the eyes of Demeter.

Victoria was panicking. You might think that this behaviour was something normal, but it wasn't. She was pregnant, and she knew it, but the ball was that night and Misto was off practicing his magic somewhere, or helping their two toms practice their dance moves. He was somewhere, and she wasn't sure how much dancing she could do this year. The bringing in of the jellicle ball had been assigned to Tugger and Bombalurina, and she wanted to see that more than anything.

But she didn't want to endanger the lives of her kittens. Bending and twisting, crunching her stomach, or just falling could endanger them. Mistoffelees still didn't know about her kittens, and he was the father, but she didn't want to endanger them and have to undergo the Macavity treatment. Jenny hated dead kittens too.

Marybeth, Missy, Kaitlin, and Leigh Ann were all sitting together, in a large open area just talking. They all had dates, except Missy. She had been too lazy to get out of bed one day, and that was the day that Ethan was going to ask her if she could be found. Instead, he ended up asking Kaitlin. Leigh Ann was going with Josh, and was very excited about it, as they would be preforming the mating dance. Surely, she would have a very happy ending. Marybeth was going to go with Plato, who was still a single hermit.

Tim, Ethan, Mathew, Mathias and Jacob were sitting together as well, more or less lounging against stacks of garbage like they were Gods. Tim and Ethan had dates, and they were trying to encourage Mathew, Mathias and Jacob to go and ask someone. Tim was more encouraging, as Ethan just sat there and daydreamed while drawing pictures in the sand.

"Christina still doesn't have a date to the ball. Maybe you could ask her Mathew, and Missy needs a date. Maccy still needs a date, and so does Alana. There we go; we I have just named four queens that still need dates." Tim stated happily. Jacob turned a shade of pink before he jumped up and ran off to find one of the afore mentioned queens. He was going to get a date to the ball so that he could prove a point.

This point was that he could get a date for something, because earlier that day Mathias was stating how if he was so great and logical, he would be able to get date. Something like that, but he couldn't be as sure as he wasn't really coherent this morning. Jacob had his sights set on a queen though, but it wasn't like him to wait until the last moment.

Finally he reached his destination, that large clearing I was talking about earlier. He was sure of his course of action, now only to do it and prove he wasn't a wimp. Mathias was going to miss out on this opportunity. Had he even considered getting a date for the jellicle ball? He spotted the group of girls sitting around in a circle.

"Hello there Jacob." Said Missy, who noticed him first. Everyone turned around then, and he almost stopped in his tracks if he hadn't started on his quest already.

"Hello to you too. Kaitlin, do you have a date to the ball already?"

"Yes I do, why?"

"Well, never mind. Who are you going with?" he asked, his heart now breaking and he just wanted to go and die in a hole.

"I am going with your brother Mathias." Jacob felt a little humoured by his brother now. Mathias had led them on a chase saying that he was going with someone, but after a few guesses they finally gave up on the issue of guessing. Maybe this was a joke being played on him to commemorate the celebration of the ball.

"Oh. Bye!" and Jacob left the big clearing. He had his chance at Missy if he had wanted it, but to be completely honest he just didn't feel like it. If his brother was so lightheaded, he would be too and not get a date to this stupid ball.

While he was all about angst, Mathias was laughing to himself, rather loudly and other cats were starting to stare at the four cats sitting there, because he was laughing like a maniac. Mathew was looked at a few times by dateless queens that were going to the ball, though they didn't have much choice. Soon Munkustrap was alerted about this possible happening of his son going mad, and he came running over to the clearing, to make sure no one was being harmed or Macavity wasn't rearing his ugly head.

"What's wrong with you?" Asked Ethan, just as Munkustrap was running in.

"I just remembered that I do have a date to the ball, and it was Kaitlin. I bet that Jacob went to ask Kaitlin if she would go to the ball with him, though you guys didn't recommend it. Man, is he stupid!" Mathias continued laughing. Munkustrap slapped his paw to his face and went back to his den to cuddle with Demeter and hope that their kittens were being safe.

(What do you call a stolen yam? Not a line break, but a hot potato. Get it, 'because I don't.)

The music was loud coming from the neighbouring tribe, so loud that Nina and her five little friends as well as the twenty odd hench cats that had come for the sake of Macavity, couldn't hear his great speech that was meant to jazz them all up and prepare them mentally, as she had kept her small group working on their clawing and scratching.

"Make sure that you leave the big, fat one alone, but also make sure that the big grey cat doesn't get loose and leaves. If that happens, I will zap you into next year. Also, the little black and white one, as well as his little offspring that looks like a cow has magical powers, so kill them first. Twenty points to whoever brings back the mane of the Maine Coon. Also, leave me the grey and silver one. I want to take him on alone. Now, make sure you evilly cackle the entire time, and if you kill someone you must loudly yell; for the greater good! If you don't kill anyone, I will possibly kill you. Well, continue spying on them for the most opportune moment to break into the party." Macavity then surrounded himself with Nina, and his daughter from Demeter that he had gotten another queen to raise after Demeter was snapped back by Munkustrap.

"Dad, I think you forgot something in your speech." Catherine said rather tiredly. She had been up for the past week working her tail off making sure that all of his stations were ready for this. That and partying with all of her friends.

"What would that be dear?"

"You forgot to tell them about Mom." Macavity had this all planned out.

"Cat, there is this creation of grief that comes when someone you love is dead. You kill her mate, possibly some of her kittens, she comes back. It is as simple as that." Nina was amazed that he did other things than be a pompous git. Maybe there was a cat inside of that hairy mess that you called Macavity. "Oh, so you know Nina, I will be leaving halfway through for my appointment with the hairdressers. I think I will get highlights and maybe a little trim, so I am going to leave you in control. If I haven't already gotten rid of the grey cat, or Munk you are expected to do unto them as I would. Please, and thank you." Macavity was going to leave in the middle of a planned battle, though it had only been planned for a week at the most. How stupid.

The jellicle ball was going extremely well, with no major mishaps or people sighting Macavity. Munkustrap was awaiting the arrival of Old Deuteronomy, by honouring another cat in the junkyard; Tugger. He had a lot to be honoured for, he was the one who finally mated and he and Bomba could be having kittens, but he was never sure. His song full of hip thrusts and flirty meows soon ended without Grizabella. Old Deuteronomy would be coming soon.

As this was the first jellicle ball for all of the newbies, they never expected something quite like this to happen. Though most of them had dates, they didn't know when they were supposed to dance. Maybe during the actual ball, but they could only guess. Christina and Cassandra knew, but other than that they had no answers.

Munkustrap was the most excited to see Old Deuteronomy. His father was sticking around for a while, but soon Munk was going to become the new jellicle leader. He would send out the search parties when Macavity strikes, he would get most of the heavy decisions. If he gets killed during this, Demeter and Tugger would rule together. Bombalurina would probably help too, but Munkustrap didn't want to focus on what would happen if he died.

"Can it really be Old Deuteronomy?" he half sang, and as the rest of the tribe sang the rest of the song, Munkustrap went to escort his father.

"Are you ready Munkustrap?" Old Deuteronomy asked lovingly.

"Yes I am. I am most definitely sure." A smile stretched across Deuteronomy's face.

"You have no idea how proud I am of you. Grizabella would be proud too." Munkustrap felt like hugging Deuteronomy but they were nearing the junkyard finally. They rest of the tribe came to escort him, and then the following happened like this;

After finishing the song altogether, they had put Old D. in the middle of the junkyard, on his tire, and put Munkustrap nearer to the tire than the rest of them. Then, as it was expected, Munkustrap jumped up onto the tire and his father came off. Munkustrap was standing proudly on the tire as the tribe and his father sang the ancient song that was part of the inauguration of a new jellicle leader.

Just as this was finishing, with a flash and a bang, Demeter screamed Macavity, and most of the queens went and hid in their respected dens, most of them sharing because safety came in numbers. Nina and the rest of the Hench cats jumped over the ledge as Macavity and his daughter moved behind Munkustrap to pounce. This was going to be fool proof.

Almost immediately, Tierney and Ylena went after Tugger, but he was a strong fighter when he had something to protect, and that was his mate. Both went back to their huts bleeding heavily and on deaths door. Mistoffelees and John were practicing magic by blowing most cats back, possibly injuring them and severing various limbs. This battle was become the most bloodshed massacre they had ever had to partake in. Macavity and Catherine soon were poised and ready to pounce on Munkustrap, as he was busy killing off one of the male Hench cats. Macavity then got an idea. He was going to play this like that human story 'Harry Potter' and act like Voldemort. That might help.

Though most queens would have stayed in their hiding spots, Victoria couldn't stand not knowing where her mate was. She loved Mistoffelees and therefore needed to know where he was. Running out of the den was probably the stupidest thing she had done since almost mating with Plato. Running through the battle she had been attacked, and various shallow cuts now traced down her side. Her white fur was becoming matted with blood. Then she was pushed back with a force of Mistoffelees' and had no choice but to try and escape without getting killed. As she tried to get behind Misto to protect him, there was something on the face of the Hench cats sneaking up on him. Though Victoria's paw was probably broken, she didn't want her heart broken. Just in time she yelled 'Mistoffelees! Behind you!" that was almost all she could hope for before passed out.

"This has been a very good battle to watch, I must admit. You have five minutes to clean off the dead and treat the wounded before coming to watch the epic battle between me and your new leader Munkustrap. Scat!" Macavity yelled from his position. Catherine slapped a paw to her face and lay down to take a nap. If Macavity looked hard enough, he could see that four of the cats that Nina took care of were gone, which mean they were dead, or were going to be dead. Nina was sprinting towards him, a small trickle of blood coming out from her side wounds. She was so brave and courageous, yet heartless and wicked. No wonder he liked her.

"So Mac, how are we going to do this switch off, when you have to leave for your hairdresser appointment?"

"I am going to announce before the battle that I will have a sub as I have to leave. Sound good?" Nina nodded; glad her question was answered without the use of another question. That sucked when it happened. Then she left to find her surviving cats from her group; she only found herself and Dillion. This was something bad. If they lived, they would have to go and live in Macavity's general den with all of the mentally deranged Hench cats and other things.

Meanwhile, Mistoffelees was in a panic. While he and John were blasting back Hench cats and killing most of them, he saw a flash of white and some red before it was covered in the various colors of the Hench cats that he had thrown down. He hoped that she wasn't all the way dead, or close to it, because he had been strengthening his powers and might be able to recover her if she did indeed find herself sitting at the door way to the Heaviside layer, like a kitten who needs a home. If only. He had told Tugger, who had spread the word to keep out an eye for Victoria. As he ran pass small groups of cats, he noticed that most of the queens had gone into hiding and were going to help the toms clean the dead up and sort enemy from family. They wanted to pay respects to any toms that were killed from the jellicle cat tribe, as if they did it for a bigger and better cause.

"Dad, I think I found her!" yelled Josh, pushing some dead cats off of a limp, white, figure on the ground. She looked as if she had a few hours to her, but that didn't seem long enough.

"I don't think I can revive your mom yet. We need the powers in case something goes wrong. Take her to Jennyanydots and if I see either of you two in the general vicinity of this coming battle between Munk and Mac I will make dear Macavity look like a tame pollicle. Understood?" Mistoffelees hated being so cruel, as he loved his sons dearly, but he didn't want to get them killed. They had lives to go still.

Five minutes passed fast for all of them. But one of the most heartbreaking moments in those five minutes was when Demeter ran out to find Munkustrap. She was bawling, as her face was red and puffy, and Bombalurina wasn't far behind, giving Tugger a loving, possibly last, make out session. They disgusted him, but Munk was sure he would do the same if he wasn't so in shock about his possible last battle coming soon.

"Munkustrap! Munkustrap, look at me." Demeter yelled, coming closer and closer, panting.

"Yes, Dem?" he asked, hoping that she was going to tell him about how she would be strong and not cry if he died, and take care of the kits. Instead, she crushed her lips onto his, and after a few seconds, spoke in a soft voice.

"if you get killed, which I honestly don't wish upon you, I want you to know I love you, and that I will raise the tribe and the kits as if I was you and be strong. If you do live, I want to see Macavity's pelt being used as our rug in the den, pretty please. But I love you. I love you. I love-"and she broke down crying, her face pressed into his coat. The fur smelled like him. She inhaled as much of the sweet sense as possible, before going back into hiding. Before she left, Munkustrap had something to say to her too.

"I love you."

(And you thought that I could think of something smart to put here? Silly goose. This is a line break, and it is here so that you can wipe your tears on it.)

"For this battle, it will only be Munkustrap and I, and if any of you dare to intervene I will personally let my Hench cats deal with you, as most are cannibals. It is a battle to the death, but I will not die because I have a hairdresser appointment to attend to, and so my sub Nina will go in my place. You can stay and watch, or run and hide, but if Munkustrap dies, jellicles be warned that you will be tracked down and killed. Commence battle when Tugger says so." Macavity said loudly, very proud of himself and getting cockier by the second.

"Wait a second, bro. This is kind of strange. Why do I have to say that you are going to start fighting my brother?" Tugger asked, his blonde genes getting to him.

"Shut up and do it!"

"Fine, fine. Don't get your feathers in a jumble. Go!" Tugger yelled, before backing up into a tree stump, or a very big cat. Munkustrap and Macavity squared off in the circle that the Hench cats had made. Munkustrap's' face was deep in concentration, deciding were the best place to attack was, and Macavity was trying to read his mind. Soon, Munkustrap struck his brother, leaving a scarlet trail of blood down the white of his stomach. Macavity retaliated by picking up his younger brother and throwing him the length of the circle. Landing on the floor, on all four feet, Munkustrap pounced, and tackled Mac to the ground. They growled, but what really got Munkustrap going was the talking that Macavity gave him as bait.

"You know what I am going to do once you die other than kill all of your followers? I am going to keep Demeter alive and bring her back. Then we might just become best of mates again. Doesn't that sound nice?"

"Shove it you big old git."

"Feisty all of a sudden. That is a change. Personally, I thought that you couldn't harm anyone, or say anything so rude and unkind." With that statement, Macavity was rolled onto the bottom of the pile as Munkustrap gave him a blow to the face. He kept slapping him, and made his statement back to that.

"I don't save my courtesy for someone who is a complete and total arse. I seem to think that you are wimping out because of your stupid 'haircut' excuse." Munkustrap was pushed off of his brother and rolled onto the ground, landing some feel near to the same spot he landed in during the last jellicle ball.

"You didn't think that I was a complete and total arse when we were younger. You agreed with most things I said, and now you are trying to kill me. Don't I love hypocrites." Mac soon started beating on the younger fellow, though he outnumbered him in IQ points and in strength. Becoming tired of this game, he then continued to break his leg. Between cries of pain and gasps for air from the several broken ribs, Munkustrap got back to Macavity and pulled him into a sleeper's choke.

"This. Is. What. Happens. When. You. Mess. With. My. Family." He puffed out before letting go and Macavity's now limp and bloodied figure lay on the ground, twisted and bent in strange angles. It was grotesque to look at, and something that the kittens should never see. Just before the Hench cats picked up that their leader was dead, Munkustrap fainted.

A/N (at the end of the chapter of course.); cliff-hanger, huh….